The Pens held the top spot in the Northeast Division coming into the game, 2 points ahead of Syracuse. So, the Crunch move into a tie with Wilkes-Barre Scranton at 19 points, and with Albany losing tonight the Crunch will hold a share of the division lead at the end of the night. They'll also have another key divisional matchup Wednesday in Hartford.

After a defensive lapse allowed Hershey to take an early lead, the Crunch roared back for five-straight goals in a 5-1 win over the Bears at the Onondaga County War Memorial Friday. Syracuse has registered a point in the standings in each of the last six games.

"Real good teams find a way to get back into the game quick," said Crunch captain Mike Angelidis, who netted the goal to tie the game in the first period. "You always want to be the first team to score, it's a huge momentum booster. They got the first one, but I thought we were putting pressure on them the whole time."

Andrei Vasilevskiy allowed 1 goal on 22 shots for the victory. It's Vasya's first regulation win in nearly a month, and while his save percentage still languishes below the .900 line, he did manage to even his record at 2-2-3 with the win tonight. So, you hope he's been through the worst of it and now we're going to see him really start to live up to his potential from hereon out.

Mike Angelidis, Jonathan Marchessault, and Dalton Smith were the game's three stars. It's been a while since Syracuse absolutely smashed a team like this, and it's a beautiful thing to see the depth of this team come to the forefront and to see such a solid defensive effort limiting a team to 22 shots on goal.

The Crunch forward, a top point producer in junior, turned into a grinder during his rookie campaign with Syracuse last season. With more opportunity on a scoring line this year, Richard has a shootout winner and six points — four of which came in the last three games — and 32 penalty minutes in his first 13 games this season.

Richard is hoping his versatility makes him a mainstay in the Crunch lineup — no matter what line he’s assigned.

“That’s what I was drafted as, a point producer,” the 21-year-old center said. “My numbers were nowhere near where they needed to be and where I wanted them to be last year, so that was frustrating. I’m just hoping I can produce and provide secondary scoring for the team and contribute that way. At the same time, be gritty in front of the net and stand up for teammates.”

Kristers Gudlevskis allowed 2 goals on 22 shots and stopped 2 of 3 in the penalty shot session for the SO win.

First Period
ALB Timmins, (5) (Thompson), 1:06
SYR Gourde, (3) , 4:49

Second Period
SYR Vermin, (4) (Dotchin, Marchessault), 2:52

Third Period
ALB Sestito, (3) (Scarlett), 2:44

Overtime
NONE

Shootout
SYR- Gourde, Richard
ALB- Thompson

Joel Vermin and Tanner Richard were the game's first and third stars. After posting just 1 point in 8 games in the month of October, Yanni Gourde had 3 goals and 6 points in 5 games in November. Richard, who faced the same futility at the scoresheet in October, has 2 goals and 5 points in 5 games this month, and obviously had the shootout winner tonight.

I also remain pleasantly surprised by the production of some of the Lightning's middle-tier rookie blueliners. Both Dylan Blujus and Jake Dotchin continue to hover around a half a point a game and are on the plus side of the ledger for the year.

With the win, Syracuse climbs into 8th place in the Eastern Conference, just 2 points back of division leaders Hartford and Bridgeport. Syracuse faces Hershey next on Friday.

Dalton Smith has taken the wisdom from his father and uncles to heart.

The Syracuse Crunch power forward, whose father, Derrick Smith, and uncles, Keith and Wayne Primeau, each played more than 500 NHL games, was told to find a way to make an impact in every game.

Smith, known more for his work with his fists than producing points, scored twice in each of his last two games to take the team lead in goals scored.

“They always talk about not blending into games, and always standing out and doing something every night to get yourself noticed,” the 22-year-old said. “And to put as many tools as you can in your toolbox, and I think that’s what I worked on a lot this summer.”

Syracuse had a strong 2 goal comeback in the Third Period to steal a point on the road, keyed by the play of Dalton Smith and Tanner Richard. Richard has 2 goals and 4 points in the last 2 games, and Smith has 4 goals over the same span to take the Syracuse team lead in goals. People forget Smith is a former 2nd round, 34th overall pick. He has always had some power forward potential and upside greater than that of just a lumberjack.

After allowing a pair of power play goals in the first 16 minutes, the Syracuse Crunch searched for momentum.

A big fight at the end of the first period, a penalty shot at the beginning of the second and line juggling provided sparks that were quickly snuffed out.

But after Syracuse netted two goals in the first five minutes of the third, the Crunch came alive. Syracuse scored four unanswered goals in the final frame to stun the Norfolk Admirals, 5-4, at the Onondaga County War Memorial Saturday.

"There were times during the game, like after the (Jonathan) Marchessault goal and after the (Eric) Neilson fight, like we had the momentum, but we let it slip away," said Crunch forward Dalton Smith, who finished with a pair of goals. "That third (period), we didn't let it slip away."

Being down 3 goals in the Third Period in pro hockey is supposed to be a death sentence. Teams in that position seem to lose 98-99% of the time. It's a rare and sometimes galvanizing thing if a team can come back against those odds, and a hugely demoralizing thing to the team that blows that kind of lead. So, for Syracuse to overcome those odds tonight is no small thing, and is likely to give them some momentum as a team that they can carry forward from here on out into the season. Big, big win.

I'd also be remiss if I didn't point out the role Tanner Richard played in the comeback, as the next wave of Lightning prospects starts to step it up.

Syracuse went ahead with a goal early in the third period, but the Norfolk Admirals evened the score with a shorthanded goal and scored two minutes into overtime to win, 4-3, at the Onondaga County War Memorial Friday.

"Hockey is pretty simple," said Crunch assistant captain Jean-Philippe Cote. "At this level, if you just tip toe and try to not take a hit to make a play, the other team is going to make you suffer the consequences. That's what happened tonight."